New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-06-05
TIE EMPERORS GARDEN PARTY.
A CHERRY BLOSSOM FEAST IN JAPAN.


YoKiH,M,, Japan, May 10-One OF the most notable
entertainments given In Japan the admission Of
foreigners the land OF the Rising sun took place in
Tokyo the evening OF April 90 1t had been the talk
of many and great preparations had been made
for the event by Japanese and foreigners IL was fancy
dress ball given by the Count and Countess Ito. large
| party assembled ut the Yokohama railway station and
after hours ride arrived at the palace OF the Prime
Minister Once through the outer castle walls and up
the hill could the glare OF the electric lights In the
gardens about the palace The large square hall had been
transformed into perfect bower OF azaeas We found
ourselves in the midst OF throng representing in dress
nearly all the nations OF the globe and their prs and
present history Tho Diplomatic Corps wore the court
dresses OF their nation. But above all that bright
and all that esthetic-n foreign dress-were the
purely Japanese IL would be folly TO attempt
description OF the rich brocadcs many Of them hun
dreds % years Old aud only the Japanese know
| how TO them. There costumes that repre-
sented the changes the country for thousand
offs hstoryfrom the warrior in coat Of mail to the
lady ia full court costume from the Shnto dety In all
his ugliness to the beautiful prestess IN robes OF
white and tiara Of gold upon her head from the Aino or
Yezo with long hair and garb TO the Prince OF
Imperial family with the robe OF brocade embroidered
with chrysauthemums gold The courts OF the Mikado
aud OF the Shotgun were represented Of
old. when one held the spiritual and the
other tho temporal power OF the realm.
Many OF the officials their antique weapons and
compared their beauties OF OrnamentatiOn. The ladies'
had dressed their hair in the styles belonging to different
indifferent positions In the old feuda society MavJ
characters the japanese tales OF love aud were
represented. There many beautiful faces among
the women and many handsome ones among the men
could regret that their costumes beautiful
soft and graceful we're but relies OF past aud that the
unbecomug modern costumes OF Europe are now pre-
scribed by the Empire OF the japanese. Many dill not
know what some OF the official dresses Of the oden times
mt ard IN aaVt IN "A
statesman who appeared IN the official costume OF a
member Of the Gorujin Is that really how tie Coun
| clors dressed in the timo Of the shosuni"
The whole palace thrown open to the guests who
numbered about 400 All the rooms tastefully
decorated with flowers, the door castings being solid
arches OF cameas OF different huos set In
The band placed In a smaller room with only the
leader sight In the large reception room champagne
tea and ices served during the evening. The
grounds were handsomely illuminated with the electric
lights and fires OF different colors and band occupying
a In the grounds played in the lntorludes between
tho dances. The selections gwen principally
japanese airs aud though they well played they
sounded very odd from brass instruments.
The garden party Of the Mikado. given at the Eurok
wan detached palace the bay shore OF the city OF
Tokyo Il he event" OF spring for 1t takes place when
the cherry blossoms In their full beauty. BY the
Japanese this blossom the towering berry il
siered the flower o! the spring ana alyoGng ana old
rich and poor. high and lowly-make the most OF Its
beauty gathering under the trees and enjoying mat
suri or FEAST Tie Mikado year this feast
OF the cherry blossoms the nobility the diplomatic
corps and foreign officers with the ladies' OF their house
holds Ihs entertainment Is not gwen until the cherry
blossoms are ia their prime and about 10 fall
that should It rain the appointed day the entertain
ment Is never postponed the reason Oelhs obvious.
was "A smaller card stating that there would DO post
| ponement In case Of rain. The invitation was a card
written In the Japanese character seven by six inches In
size boriered with crysanthemums in gilt and with the
Imperial In the middle OF tho upper side Tho IN
/ yltailOu WUrled hs follows:
Their Imperial Maiesties. the Emperor and
Empress. will hold meeting for seeing the
cherry blossoms In the garden OF the detached paace
Hama at D. Oh the list inst when you are invited
to attend" he Euriokwan is not far from the railway
station so that a short ride brought MS 10 tho palace
gates Along the route military guards were placed ana
sautes were frequent as every one gong 10 s ener
tainment were entitled 10 salute Inc iuilos"an DO
It Is called formerly The iiamaeotei. or gar,
dcn OF the Tcnno Shotgun. aud Is tho palace that was
assigned to the Use OF General Grant "hon no was -
guest OF the Japanese Empire high wall ana moat
surround The palace gardens The palace ITSELF Is Jap
anese building somewhat CHANGED III us n'erior IIo1
wood In the decoration OF the walls ana the maud
some lacquer II Is still japanese ,, ,
| oar cn1aks aud wraps given into the hands OF
The garden beyond The walks led through bees Of
howers aud lawns crowded with tue PINK cover
blossoms In fnll Glory We followed crossing here
aud there little stream. uuiil We came To pa,Inon III
front % which the invited guests assempe flesenS
the walk cleared and the guests sopataleu on either
side the diplomatic corps on the right ~ tue order OF
Mikado appeared preceded hy Count Ito, VINO presented
to him each member OF he Diplomatic corps ID urn urn
The Empress stopped aud spoke TO the Lalles' lho
Mikado was Dire ,scl In the uniform or MS army WINE
the Empress handsome European costume ol Ptlo
brown with pink feathers In her bonnet She was was
attended by the ladies OF the court an dressed III to
manner Of Paris The bands pay g hne
national anthem, and AFTER tho tiIHi
party had passed on the guests lo. ist
In train. the walks led around and across an artnciM
lake To pavilion hung with the National coOrs ana WIN
while Imperial brocade embroidered with the royal
chrysant hemums. The Mkado passed INTO inc paNiioa
and himself nj table at the upper emu Win ne
Empress on his left; the rest OF the Imperial Iamy
were seated near bat not at the table Inc
seated M small tables outside the building After all had
enjoyed hospitality OF the Emperor the return macn
was taken up, many OF the guests stopping Ior
cup OF coffee at tho small pavilion by tho IaKe sde,
where all had first assembled Here japanese cohecons
were handle TO tie guests 10 carry home as souvenirs o
The occasion The day lovely one al the yrounus
beautiful As tue spring Is the time Tor ram IN japan
days pleasure often spoiled rms we unierst'u, 10
the first cherry blossom feast given ny the Mxan ~
five years all others In that time having been maoe i-
possible by rain.